As several commenters to my previous posts about the MySpace deal have indicated, it isn't easy to derive obvious conclusions from the deal. Prevention Works adds some more thoughts to the mix:
Earlier this week, MySpace announced it was participating in an industry task force to develop a more rigorous age-verification system, and that it is modifying the structure and capabilities of the popular social networking site to better protect its users. Among the new features (several of which are noted in this Associated Press article), MySpace will debut a new high school section and give parents the ability to submit their children’s email addresses for better protection.
The decision was made in partnership with 49 state lawmakers, but, as MSNBC reports, “the agreement did not have penalties and was not legally binding”; this action by MySpace is one of intent, goodwill, and hope for a safer online experience. Regardless, as the next shift in the terrain of online social networks and online safety, this is a move for the best....
While the announcement by MySpace promises a safer sandbox for all, the choice to play nice and play safe is ultimately up to the users. So what can you do? Two things: Educate yourself and ask watchgroups and authorities to make a difference within the system.
If you’re on a social networking site, you have already agreed to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. It won’t hurt for you to re-read them. If you’re on MySpace, check out its Safety Tips. There are links to more resources there for parents and teens.
MySpace isn’t only for individuals; many organizations create and maintain a MySpace profile. Even McGruff® has a profile (but, being the super-busy Crime Dog that he is, he hasn’t had a chance to update it in a long time). Given that parenthetical, it may seem hypocritical of me to suggest other busy organizations devoted to online safety and protecting children spend some precious resources to maintain a MySpace presence. But but I believe social networking sites are here to stay (or, at least, here to evolve) and much as MySpace is going to modify the structure, so must we work to keep the sandbox safe by playing together.
I'll be interested to see how this plays out. As a non-user of social networking sites, my perspective is wholly as an outsider. I think ultimately voluntary changes will be the most effective and government intervention is likely to miss the point and muck things up. But I'm an outsider, so I don't have high confidence in my views. I'll continue to check out other perspectives and keep you all informed.
I, too, am an outsider and I completely agree with the points you made. This is nothing but an attempt for MySpace to get back on the good side of people's minds and thoughts. I'm pretty sure THEY didn't think of this idea. It was (more or less) a demand from the state AGs and MySpace finally buckled. They don't care about their users. The only action they have ever taken is when someone high up makes a fuss. First it was the registered sex offenders, now this. But when normal users had complaints, they were almost wholly ignored.
If you are a parent of a MySpace user, and you are letting them have free roam, you are 100% at fault. The Internet (read: MySpace) is so cluttered with filth (and I’m a liberal!) that NO ONE will ever be able to clean it up. And why should they? It’s free space and free reign.
As makers of monitoring software (PC Pandora), we have ALWAYS stressed that protection begins at home with the parent. And while selling a product to help is nice, it’s really just common sense and logic. We created the program because we saw the problem and saw very few parents doing anything about it. Most were oblivious. But as education sinks in, parents are waking up. And that is a good thing. What one website is doing (I don’t care how many registered users there are) after being hounded and scolded for its current state, is no reason for applause. If anything, we should smack them on the back of the head and say “it’s about time!”
I’ll leave you with an analogy. You have to be at least 16 in the US to get a drivers license. Many states make you wait until you are 18. Some make the age 16, but you either have a curfew or must be in the car with an “adult.” If that is the age required to be able to cruise around town --- WHY do parents give their kids the keys to the Internet where they roam around the world? How does that make sense?
If you really want to dwell, ask yourself which is the more powerful piece of machinery: the car or the Internet.
Posted by: Ken | January 17, 2008 at 07:25 AM
What about Social Networking sites that are FOR sex offenders and other felons, like MyFelon.com?
Posted by: MyFelon | January 18, 2008 at 03:36 PM